Posted on 11/10/2005 8:00:38 PM PST by Neil E. Wright
Note from DC: This is re-published here due to the need for its widest dissemination. If what is claimed here is true, we are in for the wildest ride this country has EVER had. GOP memo touts new terror attack as way to reverse party's decline By DOUG THOMPSON Publisher, Capitol Hill Blue Nov 10, 2005, 06:19 |
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A confidential memo circulating among senior Republican leaders suggests that a new attack by terrorists on U.S. soil could reverse the sagging fortunes of President George W. Bush as well as the GOP and "restore his image as a leader of the American people."
The closely-guarded memo lays out a list of scenarios to bring the Republican party back from the political brink, including a devastating attack by terrorists that could validate the Presidents war on terror and allow Bush to unite the country in a time of national shock and sorrow.
The memo says such a reversal in the President's fortunes could keep the party from losing control of Congress in the 2006 midterm elections.
GOP insiders who have seen the memo admit its a risky strategy and point out that such scenarios are blue sky thinking that often occurs in political planning sessions.
The Presidents popularity was at an all-time high following the 9/11 attacks, admits one aide. Americans band together at a time of crisis.
Other Republicans, however, worry that such a scenario carries high risk, pointing out that an attack might suggest the President has not done enough to protect the country.
We also have to face the fact that many Americans no longer trust the President, says a longtime GOP strategist. That makes it harder for him to become a rallying point.
The memo outlines other scenarios, including:
--Capture of Osama bin Laden (or proof that he is dead);
--A drastic turnaround in the economy;
--A "successful resolution" of the Iraq war.
GOP memos no longer talk of victory in Iraq but use the term successful resolution.
A successful resolution would be us getting out intact and civil war not breaking out until after the midterm elections, says one insider.
The memo circulates as Tuesdays disastrous election defeats have left an already dysfunctional White House in chaos, West Wing insiders say, with shouting matches commonplace and the blame game escalating into open warfare.
This place is like a high-school football locker room after the team lost the big game, grumbles one Bush administration aide. Everybodys pissed and pointing the finger at blame at everybody else.
Republican gubernatorial losses in Virginia and New Jersey deepened rifts between the Bush administration and Republicans who find the President radioactive. Arguments over whether or not the President should make a last-minute appearance in Virginia to try and help the sagging campaign fortunes of GOP candidate Jerry Kilgore raged until the minute Bush arrived at the rally in Richmond Monday night.
Cooler heads tried to prevail, one aide says. Most knew an appearance by the President would hurt Kilgore rather than help him but (Karl) Rove rammed it through, convincing Bush that he had enough popularity left to make a difference.
Bush didnt have any popularity left. Overnight tracking polls showed Kilgore dropped three percentage points after the Presidents appearance and Democrat Tim Kaine won on Tuesday.
Conservative Pennsylvania Republican Senator Rick Santorum told radio talk show host Don Imus Wednesday that he does not want the President's help and will stay away from a Bush rally in his state on Friday.
The losses in Virginia and New Jersey, coupled with a resounding defeat of ballot initiatives backed by GOP governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in California have set off alarm klaxons throughout the demoralized Republican party. Pollsters privately tell GOP leaders that unless they stop the slide they could easily lose control of the House in the 2006 midterm elections and may lose the Senate as well.
In 30 years of sampling public opinion, Ive never seen such a freefall in public support, admits one GOP pollster.
Democratic pollster Geoffrey Garin says the usual tricks tried by Republicans no longer work.
"None of their old tricks worked," he says.
Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.) admits the GOP is a party mired in its rural base in a country that's becoming less and less rural.
"You play to your rural base, you pay a price," he says. "Our issues blew up in our face."
As Republican political strategists scramble to find a message any message that will ring true with voters, GOP leaders in Congress admit privately that control of their party by right-wing extremists makes their recovery all but impossible.
Weve made our bed with these people, admits an aide to House Speaker Denny Hastert. Now its the morning after and the hangover hurts like hell.
dcwusmc ... here's your post.
I see Doug is still off his rocker
Doug Thompson is a well-known, Grade-A nutcase. What possible reason would you have for posting any of his ravings?
Sheesh.
pointing out that an attack might suggest the President has not done enough to protect the country.
"A drastic turnaround in the economy;"
so now the economy is failing?. This is so silly. A secret memo hoping for a terrorist attack. I think Bill Burket has the original of this "memo".
More made up manure from the left.
I don't know the source of this memo, nor Thompson's source. HOWEVER, I am aware that the author has been proven correct on things which at first seemed far out enough to alienate a lot of FReepers. Were this to prove as true, it would be a bodyblow to both the Pubbie Party AND the nation. I would at least want this out where we are aware of this possibility, while at the same time I hope and pray it's all in error.
The sad thing is, there ARE those in power who could actually think this way... that most of them are Rats who could write something like this for (false or mistaken) attribution to high-level pubbies is also possible. In any event, given the possible ramifications, I believe this deserves attention.
If what you say is so true, why is it that there are so many Islamic OTMs coming across our southern border with such impunity? Bush has left that border open wider than anything I can think of, including Monica's mouth.
I can't believe there are people out there that DON'T believe this can happen. We can't say for sure whether this particular memo is legit or not, but this is nothing new. There's a long history of politicians scaring the sheeple in order to improve their public opinion or in an effort to grab more power.
I vote Republican and Libertarian, but that doesn't mean that I trust them. Government is just a necessary evil, and no matter who is in power (including Republicans), you've got to keep a constant eye on them. To dismiss this as purely a left-wing attack would be foolish. Hopefully it is, of ocurse, but politicians are politicians, and I don't want ANY party to let another attack occur.
Let's get to the bottom of this memo. If it's real, hopefully it will stop any lunatic Republicans from trying this, and if it's a fake, it will expose the Dems. Nothing bad can come from investigating this.
Very little in this memo sounds truthful. I can't imagine my congressman EXPRESSING such an opinion, even if he thinks it -- he's a true politician.
Anyway, it's wrong. Our principles are not "rural", they are right. We need our representatives to sell them to the cities and suburbs.
The question is not whether or not DT is a moonbat, the question is, does this memo exist and are the 'pubbies circulating this scenario as a way to bolster the President's poll numbners. Note that I said, in my comments, "IF this is true the pubbies are toast."
I posted it to generate discussion, not because I believe it to be true ... however, note that he does name a 'pub Representative, Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.), and quotes the representative. It should be easy enough to determine if this is a true story by someone in Virginia calling Rep. Davis and asking him if such a memo does in fact exist.
trubluolyguy: I agree with your assessment and said as much to dcwusmc when he first brought this article to my attention.
Holicheese: The economy is doing FINE thank you very much. There is NOTHING wrong with the economy that LESS interference from the FedGov won't fix!!!!! :)
To the rest of the posters, suppose we deal with the issue raised in the article? When I read the headline on Doug's article, my BP went up about 20% and actually reading the article sent it through the roof! I don't know about the rest of you, but I want to KNOW if the idiots in DC are actually discussing raising the President's poll numbers by hoping for another terrorist hit on MY COUNTRY! If they are, I want them GONE from their positions, FORTHWITH!
So, how 'bouts we discuss the article? Thanks.
Doug is a huge nut case and I don't believe anything in this memo
Sounds like something Rather and Mapes would report
Well, this is actually news, and, it's actually interesting.
All that memo really says is that Bush's rebound is out of his hands. He can't control any of those things. They might happen or they might not. No one knows and no one can make them happen.
In other words, you have nothing to contribute to the discussion. Thanks for your input,
Neither Neil nor I are saying this IS true. What we ARE saying is that there are people in positions of power who are capable of thinking this way. I suspect MOST of such beings are Rats and perhaps this is no more than a disinformation campaign. HOWEVER, it behooves us to hold a reasonable discussion and consider the possible ramifications of such a thing. Whether real or not. Since you choose not to, perhaps you'll allow the adults to talk here.
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